BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HIGH TECH INDUSTRY LEADERS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA Eileen Smith E2i Creative Studio UCF Institute for Simulation & Training

E2i Creative Studio IST location within $8B region; growth directly linked to available labor Farm system for the industry, both present and future Research into learning of the course of a lifetime

New Toys/Tools: Serious Games Connecting data, environments and activities Incorporating next gen artistic and scientific tools and techniques Understanding the concept of rigor and how to evaluate risk Designing solutions based on intellectual and emotional literacy

Designing for Engagement We have the technology to allow multi-sensory, multi-modal personalization, and the modern learner has tools at their fingertips for ubiquitous access to available technologies. Designing abstraction, stylized realism = broadening of appeal; allowing more depth of exploration.

24/7 (access to) Learning Learners synthesize experiences between: – classroom (compulsory education) Performance environment; social interaction with peers; dedicated quality educator – informal learning centers (free-choice learning) Learner-driven based on interests and motivations Non-linear; motivation environment – home, everyday life (“cognition in the wild”) Transfer environment – From societal level to homestead level Extension to family group specifics – Oral histories/ first person narratives

21 st Century Skills -Problem solving -Designing the optimal solution -Working in (distributed) teams -Understanding cultural context In short…the old process standards…

E2i Creative Studio

Discussion topics: -Timing of industry needs for labor vs. academic semesters -Timing of student readiness for internship bridging to career

E2i Creative Studio E2i’s internship program: Each semester between 6 and 12 interns are training at E2i, working with the professional team on funded research; over 4 years with funded workforce development internships E2i/CSCF interns have been hired at regional high tech companies such as ECS, DISTI, Cubic, US Army, multiple small startup firms in Orlando…and E2i itself!